Females condoms shunned in Ntchisi: Sex workers say they are not user friendly

There’s very low female condom uptake in Ntchisi as most people prefer male condoms a development that has resulted into the district hospital running short of the male condoms and remain with huge amount of the female ones.

Female condoms said to be not user friendly

Ntchisi District AIDS coordinator, Chimwemwe Mangira, revealed to the Malawi News Agency in an interview Friday after an observation that her office stocks a huge amount of female condoms and no male condoms.

“Most of our suppliers like the district hospital are running short of male condoms as female condoms uptake is very low. So we have plenty of females condoms gathering dust in our stores because there’s no demand,” she said.

The coordinator said despite the numerous sensitizations on the use and advantages of female condoms, people continue shunning them for various reasons.

“I wish our supplier too, which is ministry of health noted this so that money shouldn’t be wasted for items that are not used. They better supply us with more of male condoms than female,” she said.

Chairlady for Ntchisi Sex Workers Association, Ester Zimba  said female condoms affect their business hence opt for the male ones.

“Each time you have a client, you need to change the condom before the next client, which gives you problems. It affects your income because you waste much time putting it well and wait for it to settle.  Male condoms are user friendly, your task is ensure that the client has put on one,” she said.

Zimba explained the district AIDS coordinators office has supplied her association with some female condoms but they are never used.

“I have cartons of the same in my room. My friends in the profession never come to collect them. But when I bring the male ones, they are finished within minutes,” she said.

Zimba concurs with Mangira saying, “production and supply of condoms should consider demand otherwise money for female condoms is wasted.”

 

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